Thill-coupling.



PATENTED AUG. 15, 1905.

R. E. STENZEL.

THILL COUPLING.

APPLIOATIOH FILED FEB. 1B. 1904.

* www@ PATBNTBD AUG.15,'1905.

R. E. STBNZEL. THILL' GOUPLING.

APPLIOTIOH FILED PEB. ll'zl 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2,

lLDeLy/my' REYNARD E. kS'IENZEL, OF LITTLEROK, IOWA. THILL-COUPLING.

Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 15, 1905.

Application filed February 16, 1904. Serial No. 193,795

vT0 a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, REYNARD E. STENZEL, a

lcitizen of the United States, residing' at Littlerock, in the county of Lyon and State of Iowa, Vhave invented certain new and useful Improvements in Thill-Couplings; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and

exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The present invention has for its object to Vprovide a thill -coupling that will' be both strong and durable and 'eiiicient in its operation and that will possess a simple and effectual means for preventing the rattling of the thill, as well as securing in its construction a back-action lock that will be secure against the accidental unlocking of the parts and enable a quick-shifting device that maybe successfully used on the standard clips of buggies or other like vehicles.

The invention consists in a thill-coupling constructed substantially as shown in the drawings and hereinafter described and claimed.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a perspective view of a thill-coupling constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2, a side elevation, partly in section; Fig. 3, a perspective view of the coupling-pin.

In the accompanying drawings, A designates the axle of a vehicle, and B the usual clip provided with the screw-threaded bolts a for connecting thereto the clip-bar b through the medium of the nuts c engaging the screwthreaded ends of the bolts. The clip and the means for securing it to the axle of the vehicle may be of any suitable form and construction found best adapted to the purpose, this being left entirely to the manufacturer, and consequently any form of clip and means of attachment may be substituted for the means shown..

The usual thill-iron C is provided with the eye d and is located between the shackle ears or lugs e, through which extends a couplingbolt D and also through the eye of the thilliron, whereby the same is coupled to the shackle ears or lugs. This coupling-bolt D is shown in detail in Fig. 3 of the drawings, said coupling bolt or pin being of special construction, comprising the two parallel arms f g of different lengths, joined by a transverse arm it, the arm f being of uniform diameter throughout its length and somewhat longer than its fellow arm, and the arm g having a reduced portion z' with shoulders j/f'. The reduced portion t' of the arm g is to form a bearing for the spring-clip E to hold it to a curved spring F and prevent any lateral movement of the arm of the bolt through the medium of the shoulders z' c, the armfserving as a coupling-pin to connect the thill-iron to the shackle ears or lugs.

The spring F extends up and bears against the eye Z of the thill-iron and its lower or opposite end extending down under the axle of the vehicle and is provided with an eye Z, by which it is connected between and to the arms m of a bifurcated lever Gr through the medium of a pivot-pin n extending through the eye of the spring and through the arms of the lever.

A wire yoke H is pivoted to the ends of the arms m and extends up against one of the bolts d, and by first pressing down the lever Gr, as indicated in dotted lines of Fig. 2 of the drawings, the tension of the spring F will be released, as will also the wire yoke, enabling a quick shifting of the parts, as well as providing a perfect antirattler and a back-action lock that will remove the danger of becoming loose through accident.

There are several features of the invention which are considered of material importance in the successful operation of the device, and that is in the manner of connecting the ends of the yoke to the arms of the bifurcated lever and also connecting the curved spring thereto.

It should be particularly noticed that the extremities of the free ends of the yoke H are connected to the lower ends or extremities of the arms m ofthe bifurcation of the lever G, the ends of the yoke extending inwardly and at right angles to form pivot-pins 0 of suiiicient length only to engage the holes p, so that the yoke can be sprung out of engagement therewith should it be found necessary to remove the yoke and replace it by a new one should it become worn or useless or for any other purpose. In addition to this advantage the importance of secu ring the ends of the yoke to the extremities of the arms of the bifurcation in place of to the lever at apoint between the bifurcation and the end of said lever-a greater fulcrum is secured and increased power obtained, rendering the action upon the curved spring more perfect in its locking and releasing action.

In addition to the above manner of connecting the ends of the yoke to the bifurcated end of the lever the end of the spring F is connected to the arms m of the bifurcation at a point between the pivotal connection of the yoke H therewith and the juncture of the bifurcation, and in connection with such disposition of the end of the curved spring said spring is provided with a-circular eye l of the required diameter only to enable the pivotpin o?. to engage therewith, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. With this construction the slightest movement in either direction of the lever will effect the tension of the spring, which would not otherwise be the case, especially where the eye was elongated, the several advantages herein set forth in the construction of the thill-coupling rendering the same of much value over the thill-couplings heretofore in use. I

In describing the several details of construction I desire it to be understood that the thill-coupling is subject to many changes or modifications without in any manner departing from the essential features of the invention, and such changes or modifications may be resorted to as circumstances would require.

Having now fully described my invention,

what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent. is l The herein-described thill-coupling cornprising a clip for attachment to the aXle of the vehicle, said clip being provided with ears, a thill-iron having an eye disposed between said ears, a coupling consisting of two parallel arms connected by a transverse arm as means for connecting said thill-iron to the clip, one of said parallel arms being passed through said ears and eye and the shorter arm having a reduced portion with shoulders at opposite ends thereof, a bifurcated lever, a curved spring having one end engaging the eye of the thill-iron and the other end formed into an eye sleeved upon a pivot-pin in the bifurcations of said lever between the pivot and the free end of the lever, a clip secured to said spring and engaging the reduced portion of said coupling-arm, and a wire yoke having its ends supported in the ends of the bifurcations of said lever and its cross portion engaging one of the bolts of the axleclip, above and supported by the clip-bar all substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

REYNARD E. STENZEL. Witnesses:

VHERMAN F. WULLSTEIN, A. Z. MINTON. 

